Postmenopausal Estrogen Therapy Tied to Lower Glaucoma Risk

Effect seen for women on estrogen-only treatment in study, but experts say more research is needed WebMD News from HealthDay By Kathleen Doheny HealthDay Reporter THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Women who take estrogen-only hormone-replacement therapy to relieve menopausal symptoms might also be reducing their risk for a common form of the eye disease glaucoma, according to new research. "Ours is one of the first ... studies to find estrogen-containing hormone-replacement therapy was associated with a reduction in glaucoma risk," said...

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Video Game Teaches Kids How to Spot a Stroke

It told them what the symptoms are and what to do if they see someone having one WebMD News from HealthDay By Robert Preidt HealthDay Reporter THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Playing a 15-minute stroke-education video game appeared to improve children's understanding of stroke symptoms and what to do if someone is having a stroke, a new study suggests. The research included 210 low-income children, aged 9 and 10, from New York City who were tested on whether they could identify stroke symptoms and if they knew to call 911 if they saw...

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Stressed by Work-Life Balance? Just Exercise

Workouts, or even spurts of activity, can keep stress levels down and confidence up, survey results show WebMD News from HealthDay By Maureen Salamon HealthDay Reporter THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Feeling conflicted by the push-pull of work and family life? New research suggests that regular exercise can help balance out those feelings. Researchers examined the responses of 476 working adults who were surveyed about their exercise behavior and their confidence in handling work-family conflicts. Those who exercised regularly seemed...

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Not in the Mood? How to Get Your Groove Back

This article is from the WebMD Feature Archive How to break the no-sex rut and why it matters. By Gina Shaw WebMD Feature Reviewed by Arefa Cassoobhoy, MD, MPH You're both tired. The kids are light sleepers. You're not happy with your weight. You're stressed out over deadline pressures at work. There are many reasons people in long-term relationships find themselves reaching for the pillow or the remote control instead of their partner's body after the sun goes down. But a healthy sex life is a key part of an intimate relationship, and neglecting...

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Gradual Exposure to Peanuts May Help Some Allergic Kids

Experimental therapy increased tolerance, but much more testing needed, doctors say WebMD News from HealthDay By Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For children and teens with peanut allergies, a new type of treatment might be a step closer to becoming a reality, according to a preliminary study from England. The treatment, known as oral immunotherapy, involves eating small amounts of peanut protein, gradually increasing the amount in hopes of building up a tolerance to peanuts. After six months of...

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Drivers With ADHD May Be at Higher Risk for Serious Crashes

In large Swedish study, men who took their meds lowered their accident odds WebMD News from HealthDay By Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Drivers with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are nearly 50 percent more likely to be in a serious car crash, a new study suggests. Further, men with ADHD can dramatically decrease their risk of traffic accidents if they take medication for their condition, the Swedish researchers said. "This study confirms the importance of treatment and medication...

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Kids Unlikely to Outgrow 'Baby Fat'

Overweight 5-year-olds face 4 times the risk of teen obesity, new research finds WebMD News from HealthDay By Serena Gordon HealthDay Reporter WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Baby fat may not be as cute as it looks, new research suggests. Five-year-olds who carry around extra weight may face four times the risk of being obese at 14, compared to their normal-weight peers, the study found. Of the children who became obese between the ages of 5 and 14, nearly half were overweight in kindergarten. "We wanted to learn what are the ages...

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Testosterone Therapy Might Increase Heart Attack Risk: Study

Researchers say risk doubles after treatment starts for men under 65 with heart problems and all men over 65 WebMD News from HealthDay By Kathleen Doheny HealthDay Reporter WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Testosterone therapy -- widely advertised as a way to help men improve a low sex drive and reclaim diminished energy -- might raise the risk of heart attack, according to new research. The increased risk was found in men younger than 65 with a history of heart disease, and in older men even if they didn't have a history of the disease....

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FDA Wants to Update Food Labels

Goal is a better informed public WebMD News from HealthDay By Mary Brophy Marcus HealthDay Reporter FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- America's food labels may get their first makeover in more than 20 years. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the agency is working toward publishing proposed rules to update nutrition labels and serving size information. The agency says its aim is "to improve consumer understanding and use of nutrition information on food labels," according to the FDA. Nutrition labeling was introduced more...

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New 'Bioengineered Skin' Gets Closer to the Real Thing

Successfully tested on rats, the lab-grown product has blood and lymph vessels, scientists say WebMD News from HealthDay By Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- People who need skin grafts because of burns or other injuries might someday get lab-grown, bioengineered skin that works much like real human skin, Swiss researchers report. This new skin not only has its own blood vessels but also -- and just as important -- its own lymphatic vessels. The lymph vessels are needed to prevent the accumulation...

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High Estrogen Levels Plus Diabetes May Boost Dementia Risk

Study of older women found having more of hormone from fat tissue after age 65 unwise WebMD News from HealthDay By Mary Brophy Marcus HealthDay Reporter WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Older women with high levels of the hormone estrogen may be at a greater risk for dementia, especially if they also have diabetes, new research suggests. Using data from a large study that included more than 5,600 postmenopausal women aged 65 or older, French researchers measured estrogen levels in those without dementia who were not on hormone replacement...

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Health Highlights: Jan. 29, 2014

WebMD News from HealthDay Jan. 29, 2014 -- A poison created by bacteria in food may be a trigger for the autoimmune disease multiple sclerosis, according to a new study. A toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium perfringens seems to attack the same cells that are damaged in people with MS, according to researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College, NBC News reported. "What we've shown is the toxins target the cells that are targeted in MS," researcher Jennifer Linden said. She's presenting the findings Tuesday at an American Society for Microbiology...

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Smartphone Apps for Diabetes: Do They Really Work?

You can use them to count carbs, log blood sugar, but users say they're no substitute for patient knowledge and a doctor's care HealthDay – Not on Site By Serena Gordon HealthDay Reporter WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Managing diabetes requires a great deal of time, memory and math skills. There are carbohydrates to count, medication doses to calculate and blood sugar levels to track. Today, there are numerous applications for smartphones and other devices that can help you keep your diabetes in check, although some people with...

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Drug May Extend Survival for Men With Advanced Prostate Cancer

Study participants hadn't received any treatment with chemotherapy WebMD News from HealthDay By Serena Gordon HealthDay Reporter TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A new hormone therapy drug for men with prostate cancer may increase survival a bit and delay progression of the disease in men who have advanced prostate cancer that has been resistant to standard hormonal therapies, a new study suggests. The study found that the drug enzalutamide increased survival by 29 percent and delayed disease progression by 81 percent in men who hadn't...

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Premature Birth Linked to Asthma, Wheezing in Childhood

Study suggests respiratory problems don't improve with age in these kids WebMD News from HealthDay By Randy Dotinga HealthDay Reporter TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A new analysis of existing research suggests that premature babies face a higher risk of developing asthma and wheezing disorders when they're older. Researchers from Harvard Medical School, the Maastricht University Medical Center in the Netherlands and the University of Edinburgh in Scotland examined 30 studies that included about 1.5 million children. They found that...

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Hearing Loss Tied to Faster Brain Shrinkage With Age

Follow-up studies needed to show whether treating hearing problems could delay mental decline, experts say WebMD News from HealthDay By Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Older adults with impaired hearing may have a faster rate of brain shrinkage as they age, a new study suggests. A number of studies have found that older people with hearing loss tend to have a quicker decline in their memory and thinking skills, compared to those with normal hearing. "We've known that common, age-related hearing loss is...

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Breath Test May Detect Signs of Lung Cancer: Study

Examining breath samples from patients with suspicious growths might help determine who needs surgery WebMD News from HealthDay By Robert Preidt HealthDay Reporter TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A simple breath test might reveal if a person has early-stage lung cancer, according to a new study. Researchers tested the exhaled breath of people with suspicious lung lesions that were detected on CT scans. The breath was tested for levels of four cancer-specific substances, called "carbonyls." The breath samples were analyzed using a special...

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FDA Panel Considers First Pill for Ragweed Allergy

Placed under the tongue, it helps the body immunize itself against the offending plant WebMD News from HealthDay By Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- There may be good news coming in the form of a pill for the millions of Americans who suffer from ragweed allergy. On Tuesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Allergenic Products Advisory Committee will consider whether to recommend approval of the first pill to prevent this annual scourge. Ragwitek, the brainchild of Merck & Co., is made of...

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Baldness Cure May Have Inched a Bit Closer

In mouse study, scientists say they've used stem cells to grow large numbers of active follicles WebMD News from HealthDay By Robert Preidt HealthDay Reporter TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Scientists might be able to offer "hair-challenged" males a new glimmer of hope when it comes to reversing baldness. Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania say they've gotten closer to being able to use stem cells to treat thinning hair -- at least in mice. The researchers said that although using stem cells to regenerate missing or dying...

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Peinados sensatos para un cabello saludable

Hace lo posible para que su cabello luzca fabuloso. Por eso, debe asegurarse de que al arreglarlo y teñirlo no se dañe. El calor de la secadora, la rizadora y la plancha para el cabello puede hacerlo quebradizo y causar que se parta. Los tratamientos químicos, como teñido y alisado, pueden disminuir la humedad natural del cabello, dejándolo seco y encrespado. Estas técnicas de peinado son más suaves y la ayudarán a lucir como quiere a la vez que evita el daño. Trate con cuidado el cabello mojado Sea delicada con su pelo cuando está mojado. Envuélvalo...

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GOP Senators’ New Health Overhaul Plan Would Tax Some Workers’ Benefits

By Mary Agnes Carey Tue, Jan 28 2014 A health care overhaul plan released Monday by three Senate Republicans may reveal how the party will handle the issue for the 2014 elections and beyond. Sens. Orrin Hatch of Utah, Tom Coburn of Oklahoma and Richard Burr of North Carolina unveiled a legislative framework that would scrap much of the 2010 health law, replacing those provisions with ones the lawmakers say will increase consumer choice and reduce health care costs. “With our plan, we’ve shown once again that by empowering Americans — not...

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DDT Exposure May Raise Alzheimer's Risk: Study

Researchers say those with the disease had 4 times higher blood levels of byproduct of banned pesticide WebMD News from HealthDay By Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Exposure to the banned pesticide DDT appears to increase a person's risk of Alzheimer's disease, a new study reveals. Blood drawn from a small sample of Alzheimer's patients contained nearly four times greater levels of a DDT byproduct than blood taken from a group of healthy people, researchers found. Exposure to DDT appears to promote...

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Yoga May Reduce Fatigue, Inflammation in Breast Cancer Survivors

Researchers think improved sleep may be the key to benefits WebMD News from HealthDay By Brenda Goodman HealthDay Reporter MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Yoga may help breast cancer survivors beat the debilitating fatigue and sleep problems that often follow toxic treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation, a new study shows. Fatigue can be a big challenge for cancer survivors. "Even some years out from breast cancer treatment, anywhere from 30 to 40 percent of women report substantial levels of fatigue," said study author Janice...

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Music Therapy May Help Teens With Cancer Cope

Writing lyrics, making videos helped them get through grueling treatment, connect with others, study found WebMD News from HealthDay By Mary Brophy Marcus HealthDay Reporter MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Jefri Franks says one of the things that helped her 12-year-old daughter Heather cope with the challenges of having cancer was music therapy -- in particular, making a music video. "I was relieved during the time she was doing the video because she had something she had to do and enjoy," Franks said. "She was busy in a good way. I...

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4 Tips for Baby Skin Care

By Betsy Riley And Renee Bacher WebMD Feature Reviewed by Hansa D. Bhargava, MD Your baby's soft, cuddly skin is different from yours. It's more delicate, more easily irritated, and more sensitive to temperature and sun. Though toddlers are a bit tougher, they can still get rashes or itchy spots. Here's what can you do to protect that sweet skin. Limit Baths for Little Ones Bathing a baby every other day is enough, says Dawn Davis, MD, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. More frequent baths can dry out your baby's skin. Infants under about 6...

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Twenty U.S. Kids Hospitalized Each Day for Gun Injuries: Study

Nearly a third of these shootings are accidental, study finds WebMD News from HealthDay By Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Gunshot wounds send about 20 children to the hospital every single day in the United States, a new study says. A review of hospital records found that firearms caused 7,391 hospitalizations among children younger than 20 during 2009, the most recent year for which records are available, said Dr. John Leventhal, lead study author. Of those shooting victims, 453 died while in the hospital....

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Adults With Diabetes Need a Flu Shot: Experts

Large Canadian study finds people with diabetes are more likely to get sick from flu, be hospitalized WebMD News from HealthDay By Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Adults with diabetes are vulnerable to flu and its complications, experts say. Now a large new study finds they're also at higher risk of being hospitalized for flu. The study, which focused on people aged 18 to 64, provides support for guidelines advising people with diabetes to get a flu shot, the Canadian researchers said. "Working-age...

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Let Your Nose Guide You to Less Fatty Foods

Study finds people could spot high- and low-fat milk through smell alone WebMD News from HealthDay By Robert Preidt HealthDay Reporter FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- How fatty is that food in front of you? Your nose knows, a new study suggests. The study, which found that people's sense of smell is adept at gauging foods' fat content, might have real-world uses. For example, it might be possible to manipulate food products' odor to make low-fat items more appealing, thereby cutting the amount of fat in people's diets, said researchers...

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Let Your Nose Guide You to Less Fatty Foods

Study finds people could spot high- and low-fat milk through smell alone WebMD News from HealthDay By Robert Preidt HealthDay Reporter FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- How fatty is that food in front of you? Your nose knows, a new study suggests. The study, which found that people's sense of smell is adept at gauging foods' fat content, might have real-world uses. For example, it might be possible to manipulate food products' odor to make low-fat items more appealing, thereby cutting the amount of fat in people's diets, said researchers...

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Carbohydrate And Healthy Diet Plan For Men

To maintain men’s health is a challenge for working men. A balanced diet plan retains all health problems away from you. Balance and healthy diet contain balance nutritious foods which are essential for the health of men. An unbalance diet plan helps in rapid increase of weight. So how can a working men or women find out which is better and the best diet plan for health? Healthy diet comprises all the essential nutrients required for healthy body in a balanced quantity.  In this blog we focus on a healthy diet needed for healthy body. Do not remove...

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10 Cancer Symptoms Women Shouldn't Ignore

You don't need to panic, but you shouldn't assume these signs are 'nothing,' either. Plus three ways to lower your risk. By Christina Boufis WebMD Magazine - Feature Reviewed by Nivin Todd, MD, FACOG When Caryl Engstrom, 49, found a lump in her right breast, she knew something was wrong. Despite a normal mammogram 2 months earlier and recent breast exams by her internist and gynecologist, who found nothing amiss, Engstrom knew she needed to call her doctor right away. "I just had a gut feeling. It was a sizable lump and just didn't feel right to me." ...

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